Equalizing-bolster.



G. B. CARLSON.

EQUALlzlNG` BoLsTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20| 1918.

1,290,081 Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY EQUALZING-JBOLSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, ledig).

Application led March 20, 1915. Serial No. 223,594.

To all ywhom z't may concern."

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. CARLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carver, in the county of Carver and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in EqualizingBolsters, of which the following is a speciiication.

The invention has relation to vehicle running gear, and more particularly to wagons embodying bolsters and stakes for retaining theload in position, the purposebeing they provision of a bolster whichwill equalize the load whether thelatter is distributed uniformly or' not.

The invention aims to provide for equalizing the-load on the running gear which is of advantage when traveling over rough roads or surfaces, thereby insuring each of the supporting wheels carrying an equal amount of the load and obviating undue strain upon any part of the running gear.

The invention consists of a bolster' embodying relatively upperl and lower mem bers, an equalizer between such members, and yieldable connections whereby the Weight of the load is imposed uniformly thereon and throughout the component parts comprising the bolster.

The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure .l is a front view of an equalizing bolster embodying the invention, parts being broken away and parts in sect-ion.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bolster.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and inflicated in both views of the drapyvings by like reference characters.

The bolster comprises an upper member A and a lower member B, such members be ing s aced apart a proper distance and yielda ly connected. The members and comprise -companion bars which are transversely spaced and disposed. in parallel relation, the bars of each member being con nected to operate in unison. 'libe bara comprising the upper member A are shi clearly in Fig. 2 and are designate numeral l, and the bars comprintg lower member B are indicated in Fig. l by the numeral 2. Bolts or like fastenings 3 connect the bars l near their ends and like bolts or fastenings 4 similarly connect the bars 2.

rllhe equalizer comprises a plurality of 'bars pivotally connected at a central point by means of a fastening 5, the ends of the respective bars having a sliding connection with the bolster members A and B. In the present instance, three bars are illustrated, the `middle bar 6 being somewhat heavier than the side bars 7 because it is designed to 'carry as much of the load and sustain an equal amount `of the stress as the bars 7 combined. rl`he three bars 6 and 7 are pivotally connected mid-way of their ends by a suitable fastening 5, and the ends of the middle bar 6 are slidably connected With opposite ends of the bolster members A and B, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. Opposite ends of the side bars 7 are slidably connected with opposite ends of the bolster members, as shown most clearly in Fig. l. The ends of the bars 6 and 7 are reinforced by means of plates 8. Other plates 9 reinforce the bars comprising the bolster members. The plates S'and also the end portions of the bars 6 and 7 are formed with longitudinal slots 10 which receive the fastenings or bolts and 4 which connect the respective bars comprising the bolster members A and B. The construction is such as to maintain the bolster members A and B in parallel relation at all adjustments, hence the load is equalized throughout the bolster.

The bolster members are yieldably connected and are guided in their relativevertical movements, and for this purpose, members ll and 12 are secured to opposite end portions of the member A, and companion members 13 and li are connected to opposite ends of the bolster member These members have a telescopic arrangement, e'. c., the members i3 and 1l are slidable Within the respective members il and l2. The members il and l2 tubular and eonsti .stione rod which is doubled upon its-olf into lit-Shay and secured at its lower or closed `een the bars 9. comprisip the bolemboli lliio members l' .d lr? are d. their lower ends betvve n. 'the bars u il.. ldizipansible coil ne mei." bers springs 15 are disposed within the tubular members lland 12 and are coniined between 'the coperating telescoping members so as to sustain the load. Blocks 1G are secured within the tubular members 11 and 12 by astenings 17. rl`hese blocks sustain the vertical thrust oit' the springs 15. lPins 18 are supported in the upper ends of the members 13 and 14 and receive the lower ends of the spring 15 and sustain the thrust thereon.

rlFhe cooperating members 11-13 and 1Q-14 act as guides and also as means for utilizing the tent/ion of the springs 15 as means for yieldably supporting the load. lt is also noted that the members 11 and 12 act in the capacity of stakes to retain the load upon the bolster. The equalizing bars G and 7 being connected to the bolster members in the manner stated, serve in conjunction with the telescopic connections at the ends of the members A and B to cause the latter to maintain a parallel position at all stages of their relative adjustment due to load and stress. lhe yieldable connections besides equalizing the load also serve to neutralize shock incident to the vehicle passing over obstructions, or dropping into ruts or depressions.

What 1 claim is:

1. A bolster comprising upper and lower members, a tubular stake attached to each random end of the upper member, and constituting a standard :for the bolster, a guide member attached to each end ont the lower member and telescoping with the tubular stake, an eXpansible helical spring within the tubular stake' and conined between it and the telescoping guide member, and crossing bars pivotally connected at the point of crossing and having their ends slidably connected with the bolster members.

2. An equalizing bolster, comprising upper and lower members, each member comprising transversely spaced bars, tubular members secured'between the ends of the upper bars and constituting guides and standards for the bolster, rods secured between the ends of ythe `lower bars and telescoping with the tubular members, springs within the tubular members interposed between them and the rods to sustain the load, and crossing equalizing bars pivoted at their point of crossing and having their ends pivoted between the ends of the bars constituting the upper and lower bolster members.

1n testimony whereof I ali'iX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. CARLSN. Witnesses JOHN A. MELLGREN, EMIL Soo'r'r. 

